Reamer for oil or artesian wells.



PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903.

P. HIGGINS.

' REAMBR FOR OIL OB ARTBSIAN WELLS.

a). va.

UNITED STATES Patented September e, eo.

PATENT OFFICE RAMER F`F OIL OR ARTSAN wLLs;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '738,325, dated Se tember 8, 1903.

Application filed December 1'7, 1902. %erial No. 135,'56'7. (No model.)

To all whom, it may coi werm- Be it known that LPATTILLO HIGGINs,a citizen of theUnited States,residing atBeaumont, in the county of Jefferson and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reamers for Oil or Artesian VVells, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention provides a reamer of novel construction for enlarging the bore or opening of a well when it is required to increase the diameter to receive the casingor for other purpose. The reamer combines a head and a guide, the latter entering the bore, soas to steady and give proper direction to the tool and also prevent the cuttings entering and filling the bore during the process of enlargement. i

The invention will be more particularly described hereinafter and pointed out in the appended claims; and it consists of the novel elemental construction substantiallyas shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical central section of a reamer constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, the sten being in full. Fig. 2 is-a vertical central section of a modification,showing the body of the reamer provided with a longitudinal opening and upwardly-inclined lateral ducts. Fig. 3 isa View similar to Fig. 2, showing the lateral ducts downwardlyinclined. Fig. 4 isa perspective View of the body portion of the reamer, a portion of the stem and guide being broken away.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The reamer comprises, essentially, a sten i or body portion 1, head 2, and guide 3, the latter being in coaxial alinement with the parts 1 and 2 and of alength to adtnit of suficieut reciprocatory movement of the reaner without leaving the opening or bore being enlarged. The guide 3 is of tapering diameter throughout its length, and its point is rounding, as shown at 4:, to faeilitate the entrance of the guide into the bore or opening to be enlarged. The diameter of the guide 3 corresponds approximately to the diameter of the opening to be enlarged, and the shoul= der 5 at the base of the guide corresponds with the cutting portion of the reamer. A tapering portion (3 is located intermediate of the head 2 and the stem l and obviates the fornation of a sharp corner, which would serape the sides of the enlarged opening upon the upward movement of the reamer and de tract from its efiiciency. The head 2 is of uniform diameter and serves to enlarge the opening either by cutting, pounding, or pushing the formation ahead upon the descent of the reamer. In soft formations or strata, such as clay and sand, the opening is enlarged by the formation being pushed ahead of the shoulder 5; but in stony or hard formations the strata is cut or penetrated by a pounding or breaking away thereof, the sharp corner at the outer edge of the shoulder making a clean cut.

The reamer may be coupled to the drill-rod in any way and, as shown, is provided with a threaded shank 7 for reception of the coupling means. The reamer may be solid, as shown in Fig. 1, or provided with a longitudinal opening 8 and lateral ducts 9, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the latter showing the ducts downwardly inclined and Fig. 2 showing the ducts upwardlyinclined. The form of reamer shown in Figs. 2 and 3 admits of the cuttings or loose particles being carried to the surface by water as the bore deepens, whereas when using the reamer shown in Fig. l the bore or opening must be bailed or cleared of the drillings in any accustorned way. The reamer is reciprocated in the opening or bore by any type of mechanisrn in the well-known manner.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is l. A reamer for enlarging the bore of deep wells, the same conprising a stem, a head of larger diameter than the stern and of circular crosssectional Outline, and a pointed taperedguide projected from the head in line with the stern and having an annular shoulder at its base forming a circular cutting edge with the sides of said headsubstantially as described.

2. A reamer for enlarging the bore of deep wells, the same comprising a stem, a head of larger diameter than the sten and of circu- IOC lar cross-sectional Outline, a. tapered portion intermediate of the head and stern, an opening provided longitudinally of the stern and terminatngin lateral ducts leading outward through the sides of said tapered portion in reat' of the head, and a pointed tape'ed guide projeeted from the head in line with the stern and having an annular shoulder at its base forming a circular cutting edge with the sides of said head, substantially as specified. IO

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PATTILLO HIGGINS. [L. 3.]- Witnesses:

GENEVIEVE MATTHEWS, GEORGE G. WATT. 

